Power consumption grows by 5.6% in September, recovers after six months of slump

NEW DELHI: Power consumption in the country registered a growth of 5.6 per cent in September at 113.54 billion units (BU) after six-month gap since March this year, showing spurt in sluggish industrial and commercial activities amid Covid-19 pandemic.
Power consumption had declined from March onwards after Covid-19 outbreak as economic activity came to a standstill due to the lockdown. The government had imposed the lockdown on March 25, 2020, to contain the spread of coronavirus infections.
Power consumption in September last year was at 107.51BU, as per the power ministry data.
Power consumption on a year-on-year basis had declined 8.7 per cent in March, 23.2 per cent in April, 14.9 per cent in May, 10.9 per cent in June, 3.7 per cent in July and 1.7 per cent in August.
The data showed that electricity consumption grew by 11.73 per cent in February. The Covid-19 situation affected power consumption for six months in a row since March this year till August 2020.
As per the data, power consumption has improved after the government started giving relaxations for economic activities since April 20.